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“After dinner, we shall all talk.” That’s the rule my dad imposed on the family from the time I was 10 years old through age 15. For the next five years, from ~6:30-7pm each evening, the three of us – my Dad, Walter, my brother, Brian, and I – would sit at the dinner table […]

“Am I a tourist or a traveler?” That’s the question I ask myself at 5:30am on a warm, sultry morning in beautiful Luang Prabang, as I watch the procession of monks gracefully receiving alms, one at a time, as they calmly pace through the city. As a “tourist,” I’d probably run up to one of […]

One of the reasons we all travel is to escape our “routine”: the same old work, the same old meals, the same old chores, etc. More often than not, travel represents a cool, refreshing drink after a long time in the desert of our day-to-day lives. Occasionally, however, “routine” can actually be a good thing. […]

Although my preferred way of seeing a city is by walking around interesting neighborhoods, inclement weather occasionally drives me indoors – an absolutely great problem to have in a fabulous museum-city like London. But where do you go when you’ve seen the British Museum, the V&A, the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, the National […]

“Tsujino-san. You have to go to this little tempura place I found. A pile of tempura for only 800 yen!” “How is the food presentation?” “Oh, pretty simple. Just a white plate filled with tempura.” “I could not eat such food, David-san. Without elegant presentation, food is not delicious to me.” That’s a conversation I […]

Growing up in Millbrae, CA, I had a hate-hate relationship with the hill between my childhood house on Claremont Court and my best friend, Mike’s, place on Evergreen Way. After walking up a steep, lung-burning section of Larkspur Drive, I’d turn left at the stop sign and then huff and puff up an even steeper […]

I go back and forth regarding the “purpose” of travel. On the one hand, I see the benefits of using vacation as a time for rest and rejuvenation. Heck, what is more restorative than a week on the beach, reading a good book while sipping a cold, fizzy drink? On the other hand, travel also […]

“Hey Dave, let’s go see that new RomCom, ‘Anyone But You.’” “Sure, Hon, but I want to read some reviews first.” “It looks fun. Who cares about what other people think?” “I do!” I’m sure it drives my wife to distraction when I dance this particular dance, always seeking out yet another opinion, but I […]

As you probably can tell by now, I love a good treasure hunt. There’s something about going off in search of rare, hidden, objects or services that always gets my blood rushing. I also love plant-based eating. So why not combine the two passions? That was the thinking that inspires my wife, Donica, and I […]